Fluid actuated switch



Dec. 2, 1941. J. o. STEELE FLUID ACTUATED SWITCH Filed March 30, 1940 A itomcy 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Dec. 2, 1-941. J. o. STEELE "FLUID ACTUATED SWITCH I Filed March 50, 1940 2 Shets-Sheet 2 E A Edy/7 ZZ "L i 23 (q Z/ I W3. W a 5 Inventor Jesse U/Jer e/e By Ann A itomey Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID ACTUATED SWITCH Jesse Oliver Steele, Lund, Utah Application March 30, 1940, Serial No. 327,005

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to a switch mechanism adapted for use primarily in controlling the operation of an electrically driven pump and has for its primary object to provide a fluid connection with the pump and arranged for actuating a diaphragm connected with a switch operating mechanism whereby to control the opening of the switch by any variation in the vacuum or pressure generated by the pump such as a drop in the line voltage connected with the pump, or a failure of the phase controlling the pump motor, or a reversal of such phase, or in case the driving connection between the pump motor and the pump should become broken.

A still further object is to provide a fluid perated switch of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the switch operating mechanism with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on a line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the shaft operating member, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail of a modified arrangement of the spring employed for operating the shaft operating member in one direction.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a casing having an opening 6 in its top wall and within which is secured a rubber diaphragm I by means of a domeshaped plate 8 which is bolted as at 9 to the edge portions of the diaphragm to secure the same to the casing. The plate 8 forms a chamber I0 immediately above the diaphragm and to the plate is attached a pipe II leading to a suitable source of suction such as the intake end of a pump impeller (not shown.)

A rod I2 is secured at its upper end to the diaphragm I, the lower end of the rod being pivoted to a shaft operating member designated generally at I3 which is in the form of a block having a vertically extending slotted opening I4 formed therein. Arms I5 and I6 project outwardly from one side of the block, the arm I5 being positioned at the upper edge of the block and the arm I6 bein positioned at the lower edge thereof, and threaded in said arm are set screws I1 and II! respectively.

A shaft I9 is journalled in bearings 20 formed on the inside of the casing 5, one end of the shaft being positioned in the slotted opening I4 and is formed with a pair of lugs 2| and 22 projeoting laterally from opposite sides of the shaft. The set screw II constitutes an adjustable operating connection for the lug 2| and shaft I9, and the set screw I8 constitutes a similar operating connection for the lu 22, as more clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the shaft being rotated in one direction by either an upward or downward movement of the rod I2. A coil spring 23 is provided for yieldably maintaining the lugs in engagement with the respective set screws.

A hook-shaped catch 24 projects laterally from one side of the shaft I9 and is engageable with the downwardly projecting edge 25 of a cupshaped plate 26' formed at the lower end of a pair of pivoted arms 21 which are pivoted as at 28 to brackets 29 secured to the wall of the casing 5. A pair of expansible coil springs 30 are positioned against the rear wall of the casing 5 for yieldably urging the plate 26 outwardly. Hook-shaped stops 2'! project forwardly from the rear wall of the casing for engagement with the arms 21 to limit the outward movement thereof.

A plurality of knife switches for controlling an electric motor of a type generally employed for operating a pump are shown generally at 3|, 32 and 33.

The switch is of the three pole type, the knife blades being pivoted respectively at 34, 35 and 36 on the insulation block 31 secured to the rear wall of the casing and the three ends of the knife blades are respectively engageable with the contacts 38, 39 and 40, also mounted on the insulation block 4| secured to the rear Wall of the casing.

The lower ends of the knife blades are connected by an insulation cross member 42 from which the handle 43 projects downwardly through the bottom portion of the casing.

A guide block 44 is also secured to the rear wall of the casing having an opening 45 formed therein through which the rod I2 is slidably inserted, the under side of the block being engaged by an expansible coil spring 46 which abuts at its lower end a washer 41 secured in threaded adjusted position on the rod by means of a nut 48 to regulate the tension of the spring.

It will be noted that the shaft I9 is adapted for movement only in one direction, that is, for latch releasing movement, the stops l1 and I8 preventing movement of the shaft in an opposite direction. The spring 46 is arranged in a position to exert pressure on the rod I2 and in a direction opposed to the suction created in. the chamber 10. Accordingly, a decrease .Lin the suction in the chamber l2 will permit the spring 46 to move the rod l2 downwardly whereby :to cause the set screws I1 and I8 to rotate the shaft IS in a direction for releasing the latch '24, whereupon the springs will move :the switch into open position. Likewise, a failure in the operation of the pump for any cause, *towhich the suction pipe II is connected, will cause similar opening actuation of the switch.

Also, should an increase in the suction'inthe chamber I'll develop the'upward movement of' the rod l2 will cause the-lower set screw 18 to move its associated lug 22 upwardlyand to rotate the shaft IS in a similarlatch releasingmovement and to also open the switch.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated inFigure 4, the spring designated at is positioned above theguide block and is secured in compressed condition by the nut 50 threaded on the rod 12. In this form ofthe invention the spring will serve to act against pressure created in the chamber I0 rather than by suction, as

heretofore explained.

, It is believed-the details'of construction, operation andadvan-tages of the device'will be readily understood from the foregoing without further diaphragm responsive to pressure or suction variations and means operatively connecting the movablemeinber with thediaphragm for releastating the shaft in a direction for releasing the catch. 7 o

3. A switch comprising a spring actuated switch member, a rotatable shaft, a catch carried by the shaft and releasably engaging said switch member, a radially extending projection on the -shaft, a diaphragm responsive to pressure or suction variations, a rod connected to the diaphragm and adjustable means carried by the rod and engaging the projection for rotating the shaft in a direction for releasing the catch. 7

4. A switch comprising a spring actuated switch member, a rotatable shaft, a catch carried by the shaft and :releasablyengaging said switch member, a pair of radially extending projections 'at diametrically oppositesides of the shaft, a diaphragm responsive to pressure or suction variations, a rod connected to the diaphragm and a "pair of adjustablemembers carried by the rod, -one'of said adjustable members engaging the'top of one projection andthe other adjustable member engaging the bottom of the other projection and adapted upon a movement of the rod in either direction-to rotate the shaft ina direction for releasing the catch.

5. A switch comprising a spring actuated switch arm, a rotatable member having a catch releasably engaging the arm, a diaphragm responsive to pressure or-suction variations, a reciprocable memberconnected to the diaphragm and means 'operativelyconnecting the'reciprocable member to'the rotatable member for actuating the latter to release the catch upon a predetermined-movement of the reciprocable member in either direction.

JESSE OLIVER STEELE. 

